| Here's a question that's become big with my clients recently: How can I use "green" principles while I'm getting organized? Going green, getting organized, and generating good ch'i in your space actually go together beautifully. They play equal parts in our efforts to live in harmony and balance with the world, while simultaneously creating personal spaces that are comfortable, beautiful and well-organized. The truth is that it's satisfying indeed to achieve all three of these goals at once!
Plastic - Not So Fantastic
A great way to "go green" while you get organized is to reduce your use of plastic items. The manufacturing, marketing and essential non-recyclability of plastics has an enormous and negative impact on our world, so every time you are able to avoid buying or using one more plastic container is a victory for the planet. One of the best ways to do this (besides putting a canvas bag by your front door for shopping!) is to organize things into containers you already own and that have some positive sentimental value for you. For instance, I like to keep pens, pencils and scissors in every room, so I need containers that I truly enjoy looking at. My small but meaningful collection of porcelain mugs is perfect for the task: one from my childhood with my name painted on it, one from a favorite aunt, and so on.
None of these mugs are usable for drinking anymore, but their chipped condition gives them a certain charm, and great wabi-sabi. They're unique, so they add personality to my home while being useful at the same time. This is green organizing!
Everyday Beauty
Look to things that might be going unnoticed, and give them a new usefulness. Things like crushed tomatoes come in cans that are beautiful in and of themselves. Once they've been emptied and cleaned they're perfect for holding larger items like rulers and letter openers. And small dishes that you love but don't use very often are perfect for things like thumb tacks and rubber bands.
Of course, you don't want your surfaces to become cluttered with all kinds of containers, either, so think carefully about which supplies you use regularly; those are the only ones you really need to have on display. It's fun, though, to use containers you love even when they're not showing: to open a closet or cabinet and see an orderliness that you've created with your own beautiful things can really warm the heart.
Put a Stake in Your Vampires
Another way to get green easily is to invest in a few power strips (also called surge protectors). Use them to plug in so-called "vampire appliances" that use electricity even when they seem to be turned off: things like your air conditioner, your TV and DVD player, and your computer. Anything that has a little light indicating that it's in standby mode is a "vampire" that's sucking electricity. Whenever you're not using these items - for instance, when you leave home for the day, go away on vacation, or even when you go to bed at night - simply flick the switch on the power strip to efficiently and effectively "unplug" everything that's plugged into it. Research shows that 5 to 13% of a home's energy usage goes to these "vampires," so you might see some significant savings while putting fewer carbons into the atmosphere.
Reduce Paper Dependence
Finally, paying bills online is a fantastic way to reduce clutter while reducing your carbon imprint. Your bills will stay in order, they won't get lost, and your piles will be smaller, just to name a few benefits of online payments. But just as importantly, you'll reduce your dependence on the paper manufacturing industry, which may contribute more problems to our environment than any other single industry. By reducing your use of paper, and using recycled paper whenever possible, you'll help reduce deforestation, lower fuel usage and other transportation costs, and cut down on the tremendous amount of energy it takes to manufacture paper in the first place.
Every little bit counts. By focusing on getting your home into order and making it feel great, you can naturally, holistically, and easily have a positive impact in the fight against global warming.
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